Swansea City have had another defensive blow after £1m summer signing Kyle Bartley was ruled out for three months with a thigh injury.

Swansea City have had another defensive blow after £1m summer signing Kyle Bartley was ruled out for three months with a thigh injury.

The former Arsenal defender picked up the problem in training and his injury comes at the worst possible time for the Swans.

Manager Michael Laudrup was already without first choice centre half Chico Flores for the next three games following his straight red card against Sunderland and Wales international Neil Taylor has been ruled out for the season with a fractured ankle.

Bartley was in contention to start at Aston Villa on Saturday for his first Premier League appearance for the club since making the move from Arsenal last month.

But the 21-year-old will have to wait for his top flight debut for the Swans having been ruled out until December and it means veteran defender Alan Tate will almost certainly start for Laudrup’s side at Villa Park.

Laudrup has brought in former Holland U21 international Dwight Tiendalli to ease their defensive worries at left back because of Taylor’s injury and he could be thrown straight into league action.

Before Bartley’s injury,Tate was the likely candidate to fill in at left back while Tiendalli built up his match fitness, having been without a club since leaving FC Twente the end of last season.

But if Tate steps in next to Ashley Williams in central defence, Tiendalli could be rushed into first team action.

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